Binary asphaltic particles



Patented Oct. 23, 1 951 BINARY ASPHALTIC PARTICLES Gilman B. Mollring, Los Angeles, Calif.

No Drawing. Application August 27, 1949,

Serial No. 112,844

This invention or discovery relates to a process-for transmuting asphalt, bitumen 'or similar material of a general thermo-plastic nature into a multiplicity of tiny, Cold, solid, non-a glomerating binary particles. Each particle -of which contains an inner core of relatively low melting point asphalt and an outer capsule-like shell of relatively high melting point asphalt, or

asphalt tempering material as hereinafter described. This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 613,961, filed August 31, 1945, now Patent No. 2,484,792.

Applicant is aware that the prior art proposes asphalt in many forms of discrete unitary particles, including powder, granules, filaments and other shapes of separated particles. Difficulty has been experienced in the above mentioned methods in that the-product as produced is expensive of manufacture and restricted to the use of a single grade of high melting point asphalt. My process as hereinafter described presents a new method for comminutin asphalt or bitumen and results in the creation of :a distinctly new product as will be apparent from the following description of the product, process and claims.

It is an object of this process to produce a multiplicity of tiny, cold, solid, non-agglomerating particles of asphalt each particle of which comprises two distinct but inseparable parts fused together and comprising an inner core of relatively low melting point asphalt and an exterior capsule-like shell of =9, relatively high melting point asphalt. The inne surface of said capsule-like shell adhering to the exterior surface of the asphaltic core being fused thereon during the carryin out of the process. The exterior surface of said capsule-like shell is characterized by being substantially non-adherent and liquid solvent soluble at normal temperatures and pressures.

It is a further object of this process to provide asphalt or bitumen in an easily handled form, preferably in bulk, inexpensive sacks or returnable containers and in a form which will prevent coalescence at the elevated temperatures and pressures experienced in storage or transit.

It is an additional object of this proces to provide asphalt or bitumen in a form which will upon liquefaction amalgamate to become a substantially homogeneous composite bituminous binder of a relatively medium melting point suitable for coating aggregate material and the like.

In practicing my process, hot liquid asphalt or 8 Claims. (Cl. 196 152) 2 bitumen of a relatively low melting point is sprayed or atomized into a continuously moving bed or mass of substantially cool finely-divided asphaltic tempering material having a relatively high melting point; as the hot needle-like streams or sprayed particles of hot liquid asphalt impinge with the cooler powdered asphaltic tempering material, the action of impingement in conjunction with the sudden change of temperature causes the hot liquid asphalt to be transmitted from a hot liquid condition into contracting, cooling discrete particles of solidifying asphalt, and it is during this brief interval of changing from a hot liquid into cold solid particles that the thus formed asphaltic particles are covered with a uniform thickness of powdered high melting point asphaltic tempering material which fuses in the same brief interval with the exterior surfaces of the said asphaltic particles to form protective substantially capsule-like shells for the asphaltic particles as they cool and harden. These particles are pellet-like in appearance, and of varying dimensions; and in shape are substantially spherical or cylindrical.

While I have described the asphaltic shell as being composed of a relatively high melting point asphalt or bituminous tempering material, I mean to include any or all finely pulverized natural rock asphalts or combinations thereof, or it may consist in whole or in part of a pulverized high melting point refined asphalt.

In one modification of my process I have used 50% by weight of diatomaceous earth to 50% of finely ground high melting point asphalt as my tempering material, and it is apparent that more or less could be added without departing from the spirit of the discovery. It is apparent too that both the core and the shell could be made of a "filled asphalt as the term is understood in the industry.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a binary asphaltic particle, substantially spherical in shape, comprising an inner core consisting of relatively low melting point asphalt and an outer shell of relatively high melting point asphalt, the inner surface of said shell being adherent to the outer surface of the asphaltic core by fusion thereon, the outer surface of said shell being non-adherent under normal temperatures and pressures.

2. As an article of manufacture, separate particles consisting of relatively low melting point asphalt coated with a finely-divided high melting point asphaltic tempering material, said tempering material covering the entire surface of each particle by fusion with the exterior surface of the particle to such a degree as to be adherent thereto and providing capsule-like shells for said particles and. acting to prevent agglomeration of the separated particles at normal temperatures and pressures.

3. As an article of manufacture, separated particles consisting: of relatively low melting point asphalt of varying dimensions, said particles being coated with a finely-divided asphaltic tempering material which is fused to the exterior surface of the asphaltic particles and .isadherent thereon, the said asphaltic tempering material covering the entire surface of the particlesa.-ancl preventing the agglomeration of the particles at ordinary temperatures and pressures.

4. An article of manufacture comprisingseparated particles consisting of relatively Jowmelting point asphalt coated with a finely-divided asphaltic tempering material the said tempering material being uniformly fused to thelentire-exterior surface of. the particles and coating the surface thereon and beingadherent thereon, and acting to prevent agglomeration of the particles at ordinary temperatures andpressures.

5. .An. article of manufacture comprising a multiplicity of separate particles consisting of asphalt .of. substantially cylindrical shape. coated withan. .asphaltic tempering material of relatively high. melting point, said material being adhered to the particle surfaces by fusion. there.- .onand acting. at ordinary temperatures and pressures to maintain the. particles separated against their normal tendency .toagglomerate.

35 .6. An article of manufacture comprising a multiplicity of separated particles consisting of asphalt substantially spherical in shape, coated with a finely-powdered asphaltic tempering material the said tempering material of relatively high melting point being fused upon the entire surface of the particles thereof, and covering the entire surface of the particles and acting under normal temperatures and pressures to maintain the particles separate against their tendencies to coalesce.

7. An article of manufacture comprising a multiplicity of tiny, pellet-like asphaltic particles substantially spherical in shape and comprising two inseparable parts fused together in the process of manufacture and consisting of an inner core of asphalt of a relatively low melting point encased .z-ina capsule-like shell fused to the exterior surface of the asphaltic core and composed of a relatively high melting point asphalt.

8. An article of manufacture comprising a multiplicity of tiny binary pellet-like asphaltic particles capable of making a composite asphaltic binder when liquefied and -fconsisting of an inner core of asphalt of- "a relatively low melting point encased by a relatively high melting point asphaltic capsule-like shell, the inner surface of said :shell is adhered to-the outer surface ofv said asphaltic core by fusion thereon.

GCILMAN' B. MQLLRI-NG.

.REEERENGES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Mollring Oct. 11-, v1949 

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, A BINARY ASPHALTIC PARTICLE, SUBSTANTIALLY SPERICAL IN SHAPE, COMPRISING AN INNER CORE CONSISTING OF RELATIVELY LOW MELTING POINT ASPHALT AND AN OUTER SHELL OF RELATIVELY HIGH MELTING POINTS ASPHALT, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL BEING ADHERENT TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE ASPHALTIC CORE BY FUSION THEREON, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL BEING NON-ADHERENT UNDER NORMAL TEMPERARURES AND PRESEURE. 